Springfield (Mo.) Neighborhoods Invited to Compete in 2026 SGF Kickball Championship

 

Friendly competition is coming to the ballfields this spring—and local neighborhoods are being called to step up, form teams, and claim bragging rights in the 2026 SGF Kickball Neighborhood Championship.

The annual event will take place on Sunday, April 19 at the Meador Park Baseball Fields (2600 S. Fremont Ave.), with registration beginning at 12:00 p.m. and games kicking off at 1:00 p.m. The tournament is free to participate in and open to ages 8 and up.

Organizers say this isn’t just about kickball—it’s about building stronger neighborhoods through shared experiences and a little healthy rivalry.

“We want to see neighborhoods show up, not just individuals,” said Ray Coleman, 2026 Tournament Coordinator. “There’s something powerful about playing alongside the people you live near. It turns streets into teams and neighbors into teammates.”

Teams can include 8–13 players, with at least five youth ages 8–13 on the field. Games will be played in a fast-paced format—either 35 minutes or 7 innings—keeping the energy high and the tournament moving.

One of the unique features of the SGF Kickball Championship is its neighborhood focus. While individuals are welcome to register and be placed on a team, organizers strongly encourage neighborhoods, blocks, and local groups to form their own teams and compete together.

“This is a chance for your neighborhood to show its spirit,” Coleman added. “Whether you’re playing for fun, pride, or just to meet more people on your street, this event is designed to bring neighbors together in a way that sticks long after the last game.”

In addition to the competition, the event emphasizes connection, fun, and accessibility. No prior experience is required, and the rules are simple enough for all ages to enjoy.

Participants must sign a waiver, and team registration closes on April 12. A rain-out date is scheduled for April 26.

Those interested in forming a team or signing up individually can register using the official event link. Coaches and volunteers are also invited to attend a Coaches & Volunteers Potluck Meeting on Sunday, April 12 at 5:00 p.m. at Resurrection Church (545 S. Broadway) to help prepare for tournament day.

“At the end of the day, this is about more than who wins,” said Coleman. “It’s about creating moments where neighbors laugh, compete, and connect. That’s what builds community.”

For more information, visit SGF Kickball on Facebook or email sgfkickball@gmail.com. Questions can also be directed to Ray Coleman at 417-761-0488.

Let’s kick it—and may the most neighborly team win.

For reference, SGF Kickball was named the Neighborhood Program of the Year in 2025 by Neighborhoods USA and you can read more about it here.


Written by David L. Burton

MORE INFORMATION

Take the Engaged Neighbor pledge and become part of a movement! The pledge outlines five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge at https://nomoregoodneighbors.com. Individuals who take the pledge do get special invitations to future events online and in person. Contact the blog author, David L. Burton via emal at dburton541@yahoo.com.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Results of 2024 Missouri Good Neighbor Week Exceed 30,000 Acts of Neighboring!

Image
  Several hands have been busy tabulating the final results from the 4th Annual Missouri Good Neighbor Week. While those volunteers and partners are invaluable, people like you are also worthy of thanks.  Individual Missourians who reported their acts of neighboring nominated someone for an award, or organized a block party! Or you were on one of 60 committees with University of Missouri Extension to organize county-level efforts that account for over 14,000 acts of neighboring this year!  No matter your role or level of involvement, thank you. On another positive note, the efforts in Missouri have not gone unnoticed. In the last month, I have received inquiries about the creation of other statewide neighbor weeks from Massachusetts, Michigan, Connecticut, California, Florida, Oklahoma, Washington, and Colorado. How exciting! Based on this year's results, the future seems bright. ENGAGED NEIGHBORS. We have already announced the 22 individuals being recognized as Missouri...
Read more

Best Acts of Neighboring During Missouri Good Neighbor Week Announced and Recognized

Image
  SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Second Annual Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 to Oct. 4) was a documented success. Organizers had a goal to document 15,000 acts of neighboring. But instead, Missourians reported 19,752 acts of neighboring during the week. The sponsors of Missouri Good Neighbor Week -- University of Missouri Extension and The Hopeful Neighborhood Project – recognize the most engaged neighbors and the best acts of neighboring during the week to encourage acts of neighboring all year. According to David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and creator of Missouri Good Neighbor Week, 10 different reported acts of neighboring were selected as the best examples in Missouri this year. “Whether you are an award winner or not, we want to encourage Missourians to keep learning the names of their immediate neighbors, finding ways to use their names, and planning fun neighborhood events to develop positive relationships and incre...
Read more

Five Cities Named Most Neighborly in Missouri for 2024

Image
  Photo above: From a block party in Ferguson, Missouri. New to Missouri Good Neighbor Week this year was recognition for the most neighborly cities in the state.  This honor was based on points earned by participating in the week, city campaigns and proclamations, residents making nominations for most engaged neighbor and reporting acts of neighboring, and statewide or local prizes won.  "The goal was to further engage cities with Missouri Good Neighbor Week and we had over 12 pass proclamations and at least 12 that had organized city-wide efforts for Missouri Good Neighbor Week," said David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and creator of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. "We ended the week with over 31,000 documented acts of neighboring and five cities worthy of the title 'most neighborly city' in Missouri." In 2024, five cities were named the most neighborly cities in Missouri: Houston, Excelsior Springs, Sikeston,...
Read more